To earn promotion to the 1st grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards. Readiness for the 1st grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).

To earn promotion to the 2nd grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards. Readiness for the 2nd grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).

To earn promotion to the 3rd grade, students must demonstrate proficiency of the current grade-level Academic Knowledge and Skills (AKS) standards. Readiness for the 3rd grade will be determined by the child’s classroom grades, assessments, and/or input from the school’s Student Support Team (SST).

To earn promotion to the 4th grade, students should have a reading status of Grade Level or Above on the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment. Students who do not meet this criteria may have the opportunity to attend summer school for targeted instruction. These students may be required to retest after summer school. Students should also possess the academic knowledge and skills necessary to be successful at the next grade level.

Students who do not have a reading status of Grade Level or Above on the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones EOG but who have a yearlong average that is passing (70 or higher) in Reading may be promoted. 

To earn promotion to the 5th grade, students should have a yearlong average of 70 or better in Reading and Mathematics and possess the academic knowledge and skills necessary to be successful at the next grade level in Science and Social Studies. 

In Georgia, 5th grade students also are required to achieve a reading status of Grade Level or Above on the English Language Arts Georgia Milestones End of Grade (EOG) Assessment and achieve the performance level of Developing or higher on the Mathematics Georgia Milestones EOG Assessment. Students who do not meet either of these state promotion requirements may be required to retest after summer school.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the Mathematics Georgia Milestones EOG Assessment will not be used to determine promotion as the state completes standards setting for the math assessment due to the introduction of new math standards. A student’s yearlong average in mathematics will be used to determine if students have met the mathematics promotion criteria for 5th grade.

Students who do not meet grade level proficiency for the reading status and/or achieve the performance level of Developing or higher on the Mathematics EOG assessment but who have a yearlong average that is passing (70 or higher) in the corresponding course (Reading or Math) may be promoted. 

Promotion for an English Learner (EL) or a student with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) is guided by the student’s English Learner Proficiency Plan.